Had he lived, Stan Lee, the creator of some of the most famous Marvel comic characters, would've turned 96 on December 28. A huge pop culture figure with decades in the comic book business, Lee helped create several beloved characters, including Iron Man, Thor, Spider-Man, and Black Panther. From there he was brought even further into the public eye with the release of the incredibly popular Marvel superhero films over the past decade.

In honor of this real-life superhero, dive deeper into the life and career of Stan Lee with this gallery.

Pen name vs legal name - Lee stated in his autobiography that he used this pen name because he had intended for his given name only to be used for more serious work. Eventually, he legally changed his name to the pseudonym.

Promotion - When the former editors left the company due to a dispute with Goodman, he put Lee into the role of editor. It was supposed to be a temporary position, as he was only 19 at the time, but it turned into a permanent one.

The Golden Age of Comic Books - Taking place from the late 1930s to the 1950s, this is when modern comics were said to have been developed. During this time, Lee co-created the characters Jack Frost and Father Time.

Bob… I mean Bruce - Lee once accidentally wrote “Bob Banner” instead of “Bruce Banner” in one of the Hulk comics. He ended up backtracking, and revealing that his first name was actually Robert, or “Bob,” but he chose to go by Bruce.

Children - Lee and his wife had two children. One daughter, Jan Lee, passed away just a few days after birth. However, his other daughter, Joan Celia Lee (J.C. Lee, pictured) is an actress and producer.

Remembering Stan Lee on his birthday

The Marvel Comics creator would've been 96 on December 28

Had he lived, Stan Lee, the creator of some of the most famous Marvel comic characters, would've turned 96 on December 28. A huge pop culture figure with decades in the comic book business, Lee helped create several beloved characters, including Iron Man, Thor, Spider-Man, and Black Panther. From there he was brought even further into the public eye with the release of the incredibly popular Marvel superhero films over the past decade.

In honor of this real-life superhero, dive deeper into the life and career of Stan Lee with this gallery.